Fruit and nut windrower

ABSTRACT

A fruit and nut windrower adapted for coupling behind a tractor and including an auger conveyor for gathering fruit or nuts on the ground and disposing the same into a windrow for subsequent pick-up. The conveyor is mounted for shifting movement laterally of the path of travel of the windrower in response to encountering ground obstructions. Means are provided for raising the conveyor from the ground to a transport position.

United States Potent Pool et a1.

[ 1 June 6,1972

[54] FRUIT AND NUT WINDROWER [72] Inventors: Stuart D. Pool, Wheuton;Harold G. Melt],

Clurendon Hills, both of 111.

[73] Assignee: International Harvster Company,

Chicago, 111.

[22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1970 [21] App1.No.: 61,963

52 us. c1. 56/328 R, 56/10.4, 56 1 1.9, 56/155, 56/162 51 1111.0 ..A0lg19/00 [58] Field ofSearch ..56/10.4, 11.9, 13.6, 13.7,56/155,159,16.1,16.2,192,328 R [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,181,619 5/1965 Smith et a1. ..56/15.5 x 2,916,868 12/1959Ramacher et a1. 2,854,808 10/1958 Ramacher et a1. ..56/328 R 2,901,8799/1959 Jones ..56/328 R 2,974,469 3/1961 Smith et 111.. ..56/13.62,594,776 4/1952 Hiutt ..56/328 R X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS1,366,210 12/1964 France 56/13.?

Primary E.\'aminerRobert Peshock Assistant Examiner-J. A. OliffAttorney-Floyd B. Harman [5 7] 1 ABSTRACT A fruit and nut windroweradapted for coupling behind a tractor and including an a'uger conveyorfor gathering fruit or nuts on the ground and disposing the same into awindrow for subsequent pick-up. The conveyor is mounted for shiftingmovement laterally of the path of travel of the windrower in response toencountering ground obstructions. Means are provided for raising theconveyor from the ground to a transport position.

1 Claim, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJuu 6 I972 SHEET 10F 2 INVENTORSSTUART D. POOL HAROLD G. M5171 M PATENTEnJun 81972 3,667,200

sum 20F 2 INVENTORS STUART 0. POOL BY HAROLD GMEITL ATT! FRUIT AND NUTWINDROWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Theinvention relates generally to fruit and nut harvesters and moreparticularly to a windrower for gathering fruit or nuts on the groundand disposing the same into a windrow for subsequent pick-up.

2. Prior Art Various machines have been proposed for gathering fruit ornuts on the ground and disposing the same into a windrow for asubsequent harvesting operation. Examples are shown in US. Pat. Nos.2,916,868 and 2,854,808.

Machines of these types are characterized by ease of maneuverabilitywherein the direction of movement of the entire machine may be changedrelatively quickly so that fruit or nuts may be gathered in areasclosely adjacent to trees or other ground obstructions. The requirementthat the machines be maneuverable in order to function closely adjacentto obstructions can create problems where it is desired to design amachine having relatively large crop-gathering capacity. Designing highcapacity machines to be highly maneuverable could well result in anunduly expensive machine both in manufacture and in operation.

SUMMARY The invention provides a fruit and nut windrower including asupport structure adapted for coupling to a prime mover. Aground-engageable, windrow-forming conveyor is mounted on the supportstructure for shifting movement relative to the support structure inresponse to engaging ground obstructions. Accordingly, the crop may begathered in areas closely.

adjacent to ground obstructions without the necessity that the entireunit be maneuvered relative to the obstructions. The windrower alsoincludes means for raising the conveyor to a transport position tofacilitate movement of the windrower between work areas.

It is an object of the invention to provide a fruit and nut windrowerhaving the capability for gathering the crop in areas closely adjacentto ground obstructions.

Another object in conjunction with the foregoing object is to provide awindrower which does not require a high degree of maneuverability as aunit, with the result that the windrower may be relatively simple andinexpensive in construction and operation.

Another object in conjunction with the foregoing objects is to provide awindrower which may be designed to provide for large scale harvestingoperations and yet be capable for disposition into a compact unit fortransport between work areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of thewindrower of the invention coupled behind a tractor; and,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the windrower of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 atractor of the agricultural type may be used as the prime mover for thewindrower of the invention. In accordance with conventional practice,the tractor 10 includes a rear hitch assembly 12. Adapted for couplingto the hitch assembly 12 is a generally horizontally disposed framestructure 14. The frame structure 14 includes a pair of longitudinalmembers 16 and 18 extending rearwardly from the hitch assembly 12. Theframe structure also includes a pair of laterally extending members 20and 22 rigidly secured to the longitudinal frame members 16 and 18. Theframe structure 14 is supported by a caster wheel assembly 24 pivotallyconnected to the rearmost lateral member 20. The frame members 16 and 18are connected to the hitch assembly 12 by pivot connections 26 and 28whereby the entire frame structure 14 may pivot about the pivotconnections 26 and 28 as the structure is moved over the ground.

A rockshaft 30 is joumaled in the ends of the frame members 20 and 22 todefine a pivot axis extending generally parallel to the direction ofmovement of the windrower.

The windrower includes a subframe shown generally at 32 extendinglaterally and forwardly from the rockshaft 30. The subframe 32 consistsof a rear member 34 and a forward member 36 rigidly interconnected attheir outer ends. The inner ends of the members 34 and 36 are rigidlysecured to the rockshaft 30 to thus define a rigid substantiallycoplanar structure pivotable about the axis of the rockshaft 30.

A link member 38 is pivotally connected at 40 to the frame member 34 andextends generally forwardly therefrom across the top surface of theframe member 36. A second link structure 42 is pivotally connected at 44to the frame member 34. The link structure 42 preferably consists of apair of bars 46 and 48 disposed on opposite sides of the frame member 36so as to straddle the same as best shown in FIG. 1. It will be seen thatthe link member 38 and the link structure 42 are disposed in generallyparallel relation for pivoting movement in the plane defined generallyby the longitudinal extent of the frame member 36.

An elongated conveyor shown generally at 50 is adapted for coupling tothe above described link structure. The conveyor 50 includes asemi-cylindrical housing 52 extending the length of the conveyor. Thehousing 52 is connected to the forward ends of the link structures 38and 42 by pivot connections 54 and 56, respectively. An auger 58 isjoumaled in the ends of the housing 54 and extends along the lengththereof for purposes to be described. A caster wheel assembly 60 issecured to the housing 52 of the conveyor to provide ground support forthat portion of the structure which is pivotable about the axis of therockshaft 30.

The auger 58 is rotated by a rotary type hydraulic motor 62 secured toan end of the housing 52 as shown. The motor 62 is provided withhydraulic fluid through the hydraulic lines 64 from a suitable source ofpressure fluid associated with the tractor 10.

An elongated coil spring 66 is connected between the frame member 34 andthe pivot connection 56 of the conveyor 50. The spring 66 normally urgesthe conveyor outwardly or laterally away from the tractor 10. A suitablestop member 68 is mounted on the frame member 36 against which the bar46 abuts. Consequently, it will be seen that the stop member 68establishes the limit to which the spring 66 can shift the conveyor 50to a position extended away from the tractor 10.

A deflector member 70 is secured to the outer end of the conveyorhousing 52 and extends forwardly and laterally inwardly in a curved pathfrom the end of the conveyor. The deflector 70 is arranged to engageground obstructions such as a tree trunk shown at 72 for shifting theconveyor 50 laterally inwardly as the windrower is moved forwardlyduring a harvesting operation.

Means are provided for raising the conveyor to a substantially verticalposition facilitating transport of the unit. As best shown in FIG. 1, anarm 74 is rigidly secured to the rockshaft 30 and extends generallyupwardly therefrom intermediate the ends of the shaft 30. Adouble-acting hydraulic cylinder unit 76 is pivotally connected betweenthe upper end of the arm 74 and the frame member 16. Hydraulic fluid issupplied to the cylinder unit 76 from the source of pressure fluid inthe tractor 10 by means of the fluid lines 78.

In operation the cylinder unit 76 is actuated to lower the subframe 32and conveyor 50 to a position wherein the structure is supported on theground by the caster wheel assembly 60. The rotary motor 62 is actuatedto rotate the auger 58 in the direction of arrow A of FIG. 1 wherein thehelical flighting of the auger operates to convey the fruit or nuts onthe ground along the length of the auger inwardly toward the tractor 10.As the unit moves forwardly the crop will be disposed in a win drow asshown in FIG. 1. In the event that the deflector 70 should encounter aground obstruction such as the tree trunk 72, it will be apparent withreference to FIG. 2 that the conveyor 50 will be shifted inwardly bymeans of the above described link structure so that the conveyor mayclear the obstruction. The inward shifting movement of the conveyor isopposed by the force of the spring 66 which then acts to return theconveyor 50 to its extended position once the conveyor has cleared theobstruction. The extent of shifting movement of the conveyor 50 is shownwith reference to the solid line and dotted line positions in FIG. 2.Upon completion of a windrowing operation, the cylinder unit 76 isactuated to raise the subframe 32 and conveyor 50 upwardly about theaxis of the rockshaft 30.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the invention provides arelatively simple and inexpensive machine for gathering and windrowingfruit or nuts on the ground for a subsequent harvesting operation.

What is claimed is:

l. A fruit and nut windrower adapted for coupling to a prime mover togather fruit and nuts on the ground and dispose the same into a windrow,the combination comprising:

a frame structure adapted for coupling to the prime mover;

a subframe mounted on said frame structure;

a ground-engageable conveyor coupled to said subframe and disposedlaterally to the forward direction of travel of the prime mover forengaging fruit and nuts on the ground and conveying the same toward anend thereof to form a windrow, said conveyor being coupled to saidsubframe by means including a pair of generally horizontally extendinglink structures pivotally connected to said subframe and extendingforwardly therefrom into pivotal connection with said conveyor, saidconveyor being disposed forwardly of said subframe and shiftable alongthe ground between a first position extended away from said framestructure and a second position retracted toward said frame structure,said link structure being arranged to maintain said conveyor inparallelism in said first and second positions;

deflector means on said conveyor engageable with ground obstructions toshift said conveyor toward said second position to permit said conveyorto clear the obstructions;

spring means operative between said subframe and said conveyor forshifting said conveyor toward said first position after said conveyorhas cleared the obstructions; and

stop means operative between said subframe and said link structures forpositively limiting the movement of said conveyor toward its firstposition.

1. A fruit and nut windrower adapted for coupling to a prime mover togather fruit and nuts on the ground and dispose the same into a windrow,the combination comprising: a frame structure adapted for coupling tothe prime mover; a subframe mounted on said frame structure; aground-engageable conveyor coupled to said subframe and disposedlaterally to the forward direction of travel of the prime mover forengaging fruit and nuts on the ground and conveying the same toward anend thereof to form a windrow, said conveyor being coupled to saidsubframe by means including a pair of generally horizontally extendinglink structures pivotally connected to said subframe and extendingforwardly therefrom into pivotal connection with said conveyor, saidconveyor being disposed forwardly of said subframe and shiftable alongthe ground between a first position extended away from said framestructure and a second position retracted toward said frame structure,said link structure being arranged to maintain said conveyor inparallelism in said first and second positions; deflector means on saidconveyor engageable with ground obstructions to shift said conveyortoward said second position to permit said conveyor to clear theobstructions; spring means operative between said subframe and saidconveyor for shifting said conveyor toward said first position aftersaid conveyor has cleared the obstructions; and stop means operativebetween said subframe and said link structures for positively limitingthe movement of said conveyor toward its first position.